International trade

ST. JOHN’S—Unifor participated in Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey’s trade roundtable’s most recent meeting today, calling for swift action to protect workers, particularly in the province’s trade-exposed sectors like oil and gas, forestry and the fishery.

WASHINGTON— Unifor warns that Canada must act to protect workers and Canadian jobs amid the continued threat of U.S. tariffs in the Trump era. 
 

“The looming tariff threat serves as a real wake up call on the need to mitigate the risk to Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 
 

President Trump indicated that he may move ahead with a 25 per cent across-the-board tariff on Canadian goods as soon as February 1, 2025. 
 

Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada

Dear Prime Minister,

RE: Considering Canada’s Response to U.S. Tariffs

Unifor National President Lana Payne shared her determination to fight for Canada's workers at Ontario Council this past weekend. "We will be the voice of workers and good jobs as we climb this mountain, as we navigate the very difficult days ahead, as we force governments and the business community to understand there is nothing normal about these times."

Representatives from auto worker unions in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America joined together at the first ever Tri-national Auto Workers Summit, held in Mexico City November 18-19, 2024. 

Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT)

“Recent Developments Concerning the Canada–United States Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute”

Good morning, members of the Standing Committee on International Trade, members of Parliament, and guests. My name is Lana Payne and I am President of Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 320,000 members across the country, working in every major sector of the Canadian economy.

Unifor members across the country have closely followed the 2024 United States election. Canada and the United States are economically interdependent. As a result, any change in U.S. policy and the U.S. economy is consequential to Canadian jobs, communities, economic sectors and trade. 

TORONTO – The union representing Bell workers questions the decision by Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE), to acquire American company Ziply Fiber following a year of devastating cuts in Canada.